How Tennis Player Nick Kyrgios Spends an Off Day in Melbourne, Australia

Being a world-class athlete often means being away from home for weeks, if not months, at a time. But luckily for professional tennis player Nick Kyrgios, an annual Australian tennis tournament always brings him back to his former home: Melbourne.

“Melbourne hits different,” says the tennis champion. “The food is serious, the culture is real and the neighborhoods feel lived in. You can play a huge match, then walk a few blocks and feel like a normal person again. That’s rare, and that’s why Melbourne works for me.”

When he’s in the city during an Off Day, Kyrgios embraces his so-called second home with family-style Greek dinners with friends, restorative cryotherapy sessions and afternoons spent wandering the city’s mural-covered streets. Below, check out his recommendations for how to have your own perfect Off Day in Melbourne, Australia.

Where to Eat

On an Off Day, Kyrgios spends his free time eating his way through Melbourne’s diverse food sceneOpens overlay, from extra-spicy pho to traditional Greek fare.

GilsonOpens overlay
South Yarra

“One of my go-to spots for an easy, great night out or lunch with friends. It has that relaxed Italian feel where everything is meant to be shared, and no one is in a rush. You settle in, order a few things for the table and let the night unfold. The arancini are a must, and the wood-fired pizzas always deliver. I’m also big on the seafood pasta,” he says, “and oysters.”

Lune Croissanterie
Opens overlayFitzroy

There are plenty of pastry shops that entice crowds willing to line up for hours at a time, but at Lune Croissanterie, the pastries actually live up to the hype, Kyrgios says. He recommends keeping things simple with “a croissant, plain or filled, and a coffee.”

Napier Quarter
Opens overlayFitzroy

This low-key wine bar serves a rotating menu of bites like ferments and crudités and sorrel-topped trout in a quiet, no-frills setting. “It’s light but serious at the same time and never tries too hard,” says Kyrgios. Order the popular anchovy toast and a few glasses of natural wine for a perfect afternoon.

Jim’s Greek Tavern
Opens overlayCollingwood

“No reservations, packed communal tables, plates flying nonstop, loud in the best way,” Kyrgios says of his number-one dinner spot in Melbourne. At Jim’s Greek Tavern, he says, “You come with friends, share everything and let the place take over. The move is grilled meats, seafood, dips [and] Greek salad,” he goes on. “It's BYOB, so you can kind of set yourself up for success depending on what you want your crew's vibe to be.”

Pho Thin Melbourne
Opens overlayCentral Business District (CBD)

“I come here when I’m properly hungry and don’t want to turn it into a whole production,” he says. “The order is simple: Pho. No overthinking. Eat, reset, move on.”

What to Do

At the Cavalo Prestige dealership, Kyrgios gets to spend an afternoon viewing hundreds of rare and luxury cars.

In his free time, Kyrgios enjoys walking around Melbourne’s graffiti-filled streets, grabbing a coffee, rejuvenating with a cryotherapy session and playing a sport that, surprisingly, isn’t tennis.

Walk Around Melbourne Park
Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct

Even when he’s not on the court at Melbourne Park—the multi-sport venue that hosts Australia’s annual tennis tournament—Kyrgios likes to arrive early before a match to soak in the energy. “Everything is close together, which makes it easy to move between matches, grab food, overhear conversations and feel part of what is happening,” he says.

Wander Through CBD Laneways
Flinders Lane and surrounding blocks

When he has a free afternoon, Kyrgios enjoys exploring Melbourne’s narrow back alleys, also known here as laneways. “Melbourne is massive, and the laneways are the city’s connective tissue,” he says. In addition to vibrant street art, these side streets are filled with coffee shops, bars, lowkey dining spots and more, sometimes even tucked behind unmarked doors.

Admire Luxury Cars at Cavalo Prestige
Docklands

If you’re into cars, Cavalo Prestige is the place to be, Kyrgios says. Inside, you’ll find hundreds of them on display, from luxury SUVs to rare collector vehicles. “It’s not just about buying a car. You can grab a coffee, walk around, geek out over the engineering without any pressure,” he says. “Whether you’re a car person or just appreciate quality stuff, it’s worth checking out.”

Shoot Hoops at CourtSide
Port Melbourne

Despite playing tennis professionally, Kyrgios’s first love is actually basketball. When he wants to shoot some hoops, he heads straight to CourtSide, an athletic complex in Port Melbourne with a trio of full-size indoor courts and a retail store stocked with sporting gear. “The whole vibe is about basketball culture, whether you’re training seriously, shopping for sneakers or just hanging out and soaking up the atmosphere,” he says.

Recover at Alchemy Cryotherapy Centre
South Yarra

If you’re into wellness, Kyrgios says to check out Alchemy Cryotherapy Centre in South Yarra. “Athletes use it for recovery, but it works for anyone dealing with pain or just wanting to feel sharper,” he says. The center also offers hyperbaric oxygen and red light therapies for those looking to go deeper.

Where to Stay

For a modern stay in the center of the city, Kyrgios loves the W Melbourne.

When he’s visiting Melbourne, Kyrgios looks for hotels with a modern aesthetic, privacy and a central location so he has plenty to do, see and eat while in town. Two of his favorite stays in the city? A moody boutique hotel, or a towering skyscraper with epic city views.

W Melbourne
Central Business District (CBD)
Member of The Edit by Chase Travel

For Kyrgios, the biggest appeal of a stay at the W Melbourne is how “the hotel connects you to the city and the river,” he says. “Step outside, and you are immediately in it.” Many rooms here are filled with pops of orange and fuchsia and have separate entertainment and sleeping areas, floor-to-ceiling windows and large bathrooms. The hotel has a Japanese and an Italian restaurant, a hidden cocktail bar and a poolside eatery with skyline views that, come evening, transforms into an adults-only space. Kyrgios recommends the hotel for travelers who want an easy stay in the middle of the city.

Hyde Melbourne Place
Central Business District (CBD)

Kyrgios’s self-appointed “home away from home,” this sleek boutique hotel sits squarely in Melbourne’s Central Business District. The hotel’s rooms are swathed in earthy terracotta, olive green and warm wood hues. There are also three restaurants and bars, including a spot dishing out  Eastern Mediterranean cuisine on the rooftop and a hidden speakeasy-style bar in the basement. “The underground bar is perfect when you want something low-key, while the rooftop opens up the city when you’re in the mood for views,” he says.